Transcription of Knee Osteoarthritis
1 OrthoInfo Basics knee Osteoarthritis What is knee Osteoarthritis ? Osteoarthritis , Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis. also known A healthy knee easily bends and straightens because of a smooth, as wear and slippery tissue called articular cartilage. This substance covers, tear arthritis, protects, and cushions the ends of the leg bones that form your is a common knee . problem for Between your bones, two c-shaped pieces of meniscal cartilage many people act as shock absorbers to cushion your knee joint. Osteoarthritis after they reach causes cartilage to wear away. middle age. How it happens. Osteoarthritis occurs over time. When the cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and rough.
2 Moving the Osteoarthritis of the bones along this exposed surface is painful. knee is a leading cause of If the cartilage wears disability in the United away completely, it can Femur (Thighbone). result in bone rubbing States. It develops slowly on bone. To make up Articular Cartilage and the pain it causes for the lost cartilage, worsens over time. the damaged bones Meniscus may start to grow Although there is no outward and form Tibia (Shinbone). painful spurs. cure for Osteoarthritis , Symptoms. Pain and A healthy knee there are many treatment stiffness are the most options available. Using common symptoms Femur these, people with of knee Osteoarthritis . Damaged Symptoms tend to be Articular Cartilage Osteoarthritis are able to worse in the morning manage pain, stay active, or after a period of Bone Spurs and live fulfilling lives.
3 Inactivity. Tibia An osteoarthritic knee 1. OrthoInfo Basics knee Osteoarthritis What causes knee Osteoarthritis ? Is it better to get diagnosed early? Many factors increase your risk for developing Because Osteoarthritis worsens over time, the Osteoarthritis . sooner you start treatment, the better. Age. The ability of cartilage to heal itself After discussing your symptoms and medical decreases as we age. Osteoarthritis typically history, your doctor may order x-rays to confirm affects people middle-aged and older. you have Osteoarthritis . X-rays show if cartilage damage has decreased joint space between your Heredity. Certain genes have been linked to leg bones. Osteoarthritis . Inherited traits, such as being bowlegged, knock-kneed, or double-jointed, can also put you at greater risk for the disease.
4 Femur Weight. The more you weigh, the more stress you put on your knee joints. Injury. Previous knee injury, such as a sports injury, can lead to Osteoarthritis later in life. Tibia Overuse. People in occupations that involve repeated kneeling or squatting, or heavy lifting and Normal joint space between walking, are vulnerable to repetitive the femur and tibia. stress injuries in the knee . This makes them more likely to develop Osteoarthritis . Other illnesses. If you have had other Destroyed problems with your knee , such as gout, knee Cartilage infection, or Lyme disease, your risk for Osteoarthritis increases. Bone Spurs Decreased joint space due to damaged cartilage and bone spurs. 2.
5 OrthoInfo Basics knee Osteoarthritis What are common treatments? Your doctor will develop a personal treatment Dietary supplements. Some people report that plan to relieve your joint pain and stiffness. over-the-counter supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate provide pain relief. Talk Lifestyle changes. If pain does not interfere to your doctor before using supplements. with your daily routine, your doctor may first recommend lifestyle changes to protect your Steroid injections. Cortisone is a powerful anti- joint and slow the disease's progress. inflammatory medicine that is injected directly into your knee joint. Exercise. If you regularly do high-impact exercises (running or competitive sports), Viscosupplementation.
6 This injection therapy switching to low-impact activities will put may be an option for patients whose arthritis less stress on your knee . Walking, cycling, and symptoms do not respond to other nonsurgical swimming are good low-impact options. treatments. Weight loss. If you are overweight, losing just Surgery. Your doctor may consider surgery if a few pounds can make a big difference in the your pain worsens and causes disability. amount of stress you place on your knee joint. Arthroscopy. This procedure can be used to Physical therapy. Specific exercises can remove torn and loose cartilage pieces, or improve the range-of-motion in your knee and smooth out areas of worn cartilage. The more strengthen the muscles in your leg that support advanced your arthritis is, the less effective the joint.
7 Assistive devices, like braces, splints, or arthroscopy will be. shoe inserts, can also help reduce stress on your joint. Osteotomy. The bones around the knee are cut and realigned to take pressure off of the Medications. If your pain affects your daily affected side of the knee joint. routine, or is not relieved by initial methods, your doctor may suggest medications. Joint replacement. A knee replacement can be partial or total. The damaged surfaces of the Acetaminophen. Mild pain is often relieved with knee joint are removed and replaced with acetaminophen. artificial components. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling. 3. OrthoInfo Basics knee Osteoarthritis Living with Osteoarthritis Learning you have Osteoarthritis can be may suggest assistive equipment for your discouraging.
8 Treatment options can help, and bathroom, like a shower bench, elevated toilet there are many things you can do to lessen the seat, and handrails. impact arthritis has on your life. Get plenty of rest. Osteoarthritis can make Talk to your doctor. If your symptoms you more tired, and your arthritis symptoms worsen or you are having a hard time coping, may worsen when you are fatigued. Try to get a your doctor can review your treatment plan. full night's sleep, and take short naps during the Consult a physical therapist. A physical day if you need to. therapist will teach you exercises to improve Discuss alternative medicine with your your strength and flexibility. A therapist can also help you find new ways to do everyday doctor.
9 Some alternative therapies appear to activities. Simple changes, like using a reacher help arthritis pain. Talk to your doctor before to pick up low-lying things, can make a huge trying any alternative treatments. They could difference in relieving joint pain. Your therapist interfere with your treatment plan. For more information For more information about knee Osteoarthritis , visit OrthoInfo at OrthoInfo is the patient education website of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and is a trusted source of information about musculoskeletal conditions. Our articles are developed by orthopaedic surgeons, and provide detailed information about a wide range of injuries and diseases, as well as treatment options and prevention topics.
10 AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon. 2019 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 4.
